Tag: thank you note

Weddings are wrought with thousands of details, that it is possible you may overlook or forget a few things. While some of these may not matter in the big picture, there are certain others that will make your guests unhappy. Unfortunately, it is after the wedding that the couple usually realize they should have given more attention to these factors. After all, a wedding should be a satisfying and fun event for not only those who are in it, but also for all those who attend it.

Here is a list of the seven most common problems wedding guests complain about. We also have the solutions to each of these issues, to help you handle it easily. Make sure you prioritize these potential issues when planning your wedding, and your guests will be a happy bunch.

#1 Incomplete information in the invitation

Choosing invitation stationery and coming up with interesting ways to word the invite can be exciting. In all this excitement, it is not unusual for couples to forget adding crucial information that the guest may need. However pretty your card may be, your guests may not appreciate it if it lacks the basic things they need to plan their availability. Common confusions are about whether children are invited, the invite includes their plus-one’s and unclear venue information.

Solution: The simple solution is to frame your invitation around the basic essentials to be communicated. Follow our invitation checklist on this previous post, to make sure you have all the information in place. And, keep it simple and attractive instead of cluttered. If your invitation has too many details, make sure that the layout and format highlights the essential information like the Venue address, wedding date and time, RSVP date and your contact information. This will allow them to locate what they seek easily.

#2 Getting bored by waiting around

Your guests will quickly be bored after the ceremony, when they have to wait for the reception to begin. They may also have to wait after reaching the venue, before the wedding actually starts. While some amount of waiting is admissible, it can be pretty irritating if they feel they spent too much time waiting for things to happen. So, this is an area you have to work on prior to the wedding.

Solution: Make sure that you have arranged for seating outside the venue, if your guests have to wait before entering it. Similarly, plan some entertainment if there is a long waiting period or delays between events. You can either start the party off with appetizers and drinks during the waiting period at the reception, or have an entertainer keep them occupied. Also, plan your photography sessions and time to change dress or touch up your makeup, so that there isn’t too much delay that bores the guests.

#3 Food that they cannot enjoy

Some couples make the cardinal mistake of splurging on the décor, dress and other things, while skimping on the food. Remember that if there is one thing your guests look forward to enjoying at the wedding, it is the food. They expect not only appetizing food, but also something different. Dietary restrictions aren’t uncommon, especially when you invite so many people. You will mostly have to handle vegetarians or vegans, those with gluten allergies and nut allergies. If your menu doesn’t cater to these specific requirements, you can be certain that there will be unhappy people at your wedding. Although you may not be able to make everyone at your wedding happy with your choice of food, you should at least make sure that they have a filling meal.

Solution: Make use of your RSVP’s to confirm what your guests can and cannot have. You can ask them to inform you of any dietary constraints they have, by adding that information to the invitation card or your wedding website. If you can have different menu options, ask your wedding guests to select what they would like to have, from a chosen set of dishes. When they inform you of their choices on time, your caterer will be able to set up the dinner plan accordingly. However, the more important thing is to make sure that all your guests are able to eat at your wedding. If not to impress, at least make sure that nobody has to stay hungry because you didn’t accommodate their dietary needs. Additionally, plan your menu so that it has a range of interesting dishes. If you aren’t sure your special dish will be liked by all, make sure it isn’t the only thing on the menu. Fill your guests’ tummies with appetizing fare, and you will see happy faces all around.

#4 Couples who do not mind them at all

Don’t undermine the efforts your guests put in, so they can attend your wedding. It is not only those who travel from far, who take pains to be there to witness your milestone celebration. They may have put aside other engagements, made alternate plans to have their children taken care of, driven from far or given priority to your wedding over other engagements on the same day. So, it is only reasonable that they expect you to appreciate their presence. When a couple or the wedding party ignores a guest, even when it is not on purpose, it can put them off. They expect you to thank and acknowledge them for their presence at your wedding.

Solution: It doesn’t take much to make your guests feel appreciated for their presence. Although you may be busy throughout the day, make an effort to personally meet and greet all your guests. They will be eager to congratulate you post the ceremony, so set aside time for this. Also, be pleasant around them and not look too eager to get rid of them. You have to put up with this on your wedding day, so be prepared. Be a courteous host and your guests will remember your wedding for the happiness they experienced there, and not the ungrateful attitude they felt was meted out. Finally, don’t forget to send your guests thank you notes for their gifts and attendance, and they will be pleased to have been part of your celebration.

#5 Any extras that they have to pay

It is not only the couple who spend money at a wedding. Every wedding guest has to accommodate several expenses to be part of it. First there is the gift, then the expenses to travel to the venue. They may also have to spend extra if they have to arrange care for their children, if the wedding doesn’t include children. Finally, at least some of the guests will be shelling out money on their outfits for the wedding. So, it is a significant amount they spend. For this reason, they wouldn’t be too happy if they had to pay for anything unexpected at the wedding. Whether it is to order their drinks because you haven’t arranged for a bar, or it is an unreasonable parking fee at a specific venue, we are sure no guest will appreciate the extra expenses they have to bear.

Solution: Make sure that your guests will not be required to pay anything unreasonable from their wallet to attend or be part of your wedding. If there is something that they will have to bear, you should prepare them in advance for it by informing them beforehand. Put a word on your invitation and on your wedding website, so they can come prepared and will not end up being grumpy at the wedding reception on account of it.

#6 Music they cannot enjoy

Although many guests pretend they don’t like dancing, very few of your guests actually dread stepping up to the dance floor. Most couples are quite sensible when planning their playlist, and accommodate at least a few songs that are widely appreciated. Nevertheless, there are those who stick with one genre of songs throughout and bore many guests with it. Then the reception can seem unusually long and boring, and you will kill your guests enthusiasm if you take this route. On the same note, they may also not like it if your DJ isn’t too considerate about their comfort level and forces them to participate.

Solution: Irrespective of the theme of your wedding, make sure that there are at least a few songs that are definite crowd pleasers. Discuss this with your band and DJ and add songs that appeal to different age groups. This way, there will be at least a few songs for everyone to dance. Also, have songs distributed evenly, so people can come on and go off the dance floor. They will otherwise feel their turn is over quickly, and will be bored for the rest of the evening. Don’t have too many organized dances either, as people love to relax and simply dance to their heart’s content, rather than feel too restricted by the music being played.

#7 Long speeches

Wedding toasts and speeches are an indispensable part of wedding receptions, but it can also kill the fun if it goes overboard. While your speaker may want to share a lot of things from the past and present that is relevant to you, it may not be so appealing to the guests. Long speeches are no fun at all, and it is likely that not all your guests will know every detail of your life to enjoy all the long stories that your speakers may come up with. Don’t have your guests dozing off as your best man goes on and on, and your Maid of honor can’t seem to get on with her speech from her tears of joy! Your guests see toasts and speeches as a necessary evil associated with receptions, so don’t disappoint them by having it as the main entertainment for the evening.

Solution: Keep the wedding toasts and speeches to a minimum, by asking only those who really matter to speak on the occasion. Even so, tell your speakers that you want them to plan their speeches to extend no more than five minutes. Hopefully they will stick to this limit. If there are others who must say something, move their speeches into the other events leading up to the wedding, and save your guests the torture of sitting through speech after speech. We have discussed the essentials to planning a wedding speech previously, so reading it may give you pointers in this direction.

#8 Being in uncomfortable settings

Beaches, winter weddings, outdoor garden weddings are all romantic, but notorious for the uncomfortable conditions they can put guests through. While the extent of discomfort may be trivial, or you may not even consider it relevant, it is essential to think of it from your guests’ perspective. Sitting in the hot summer sun on a beach for few hours can be torture for at least some of your guests. Similarly, being in a chilly venue in winter, or in a garden teeming with bugs and insects may not be very interesting. The commute up and down a long winding staircase may also be equally appalling to some of your guests.

Solution: When you choose a venue, look at the various aspects that may make your guests uncomfortable. Then figure out how to counter it. If you must get married on the beach or outdoors in summer, make sure there is plenty of shade through tents or gazebos and cooling using fans. This way your guests won’t mind the time they spend outdoors. Have your winter wedding venue warmed up in advance and throw some blankets into baskets, so your guests can cozy up should they require it. Prioritize your guests comfort and you will have a happier crowd at your wedding.

#9 Queuing up

Nobody likes to wait in queue, and especially for too long. Whether it is to use the washroom or at the buffet to fill their plates, too much of waiting can really be irritating. Fortunately, you can plan your wedding to avoid this discomfort for your guests.

Solution: Make sure your wedding venue has enough washrooms, so your guests don’t have to wait in queue for hours to use it, when they need it. If your wedding is at an outdoor venue like your garden, rent the required number of portable toilets, so nobody spends more than necessary time waiting to use the washroom. Think in terms of numbers when planning your menu options and setting it up. Think of how long the food service will take, and arrange multiple food and beverage stations if necessary.

Wedding registries help guests to find useful gifts for the to-be-married couple. This is very helpful for them to set up their home, when they begin their new life together. Today, many couples may be living together long before they are married. Nevertheless, a good wedding registry allows them to get a little help with what they need to make their married life function more smoothly.

Over the course of this article, we will tell you why a registry is a good idea, how to inform your guests about where you are registered, how to make the best use of your wedding registry and also a list of registry must-haves that will help you set up home conveniently.

Is a wedding registry even necessary?

Some couples feel that wedding registries are not a good idea, since it gives the impression that you are fishing for gifts. Do you agree with them or are you undecided on whether a wedding gift registry is a good idea?

Here are our arguments in favor of having wedding registries. The couple and their guests should pay attention to setting up or picking gifts from a wedding registry for these reasons:

It goes without saying that guests will get gifts for weddings. If every guest at the wedding were to pick a random gift, it is likely that you will end up with stuff that may not be useful to you at all, while you will still have to find the space to accommodate it till you decide what to do with it.

Different couples have different preferences. If your guests have no idea of your tastes, the likelihood of receiving gifts that serve no purpose or clashes with your choices, is very high.

If a couple have been living together for a while, it is likely that they will already have stocked up on the essentials. In that case, your registry will help your guests pick an item that will actually be useful, than go for something that you already own.

Now that you know why registering for gifts is sensible, let us look at how you can let your guests know where you are registered.

How to tell your guests where you are registered

Traditional wedding etiquette condemns you from putting your wedding registry on your wedding invitation. This makes it difficult for you to inform your guests about what you would like to receive. Fortunately, there are other ways, and here they are.

Entrust the task to your bridesmaids, mother and rest of the wedding party

A guest who wishes to find out where you are registered will be hesitant to ask you directly for your registry information. Instead, they will mostly ask a member of your bridal party. So, make sure your women in waiting know where you are registered, and pass it along when asked.

Use the bridal shower invitation

While it isn’t right to use the wedding invitation to share the wedding registry, the bridal shower invitation can be used for this purpose. Why? Technically, the shower is hosted by someone other than the bride. Since there will be invitations going out for this event, you can request your maid of honor, or whoever is in-charge of hosting it, to make this information readily available to those who seek it.

Wedding website

Every wedding today has to have a wedding website. This allows the couple to share relevant information pertaining to the wedding. Now, the guests needn’t worry if they lose the invitation card, or forget to ask about certain details. We suggest that you add your wedding registry to your wedding website, and your guests will have no difficulty locating it.

How to efficiently plan your wedding registry?

There are many lessons we can learn from couples who have previously tested the waters. This couple on Apartment Therapy tell us that like most couples, they had no idea on where to begin and ended up looking at their parents’ kitchens, pulled out a few lists of must-haves from magazines and created a registry. While some of these picks continue to serve them, others ended up being discarded or in the donation pile.

So, how do you make sure that your wedding registry contains what will be most useful to you? Here are some tips

#Don’t go with the trend

Remember that expensive gifts should last long. So, don’t get caught up in the trend of what is hot today. Whether you find a trendy flatware pattern appealing, or feel hot pink towels are impressive, think of whether your taste will change over the years. The best thing to do is to stick with safe options in neutral colors, so that it will not look dated over the years.

#Choose individual items instead of a set of pieces

While it may look attractive to have a set of items that match, think thoroughly about how useful each piece will be to you. Make the best use of your gift choices by opting for items that will each serve a purpose, and you will have just the right things taking up space in your house.

#Don’t forget the basics

Instead of choosing occasionally useful items, give priority to the essential must-have’s. A good set of knives, bath towels, bed linen, flatware and cutlery are all worthwhile investments, when you consider how well they serve you everyday. Don’t forget the essential toolbox and gardening items either, if you make use of these regularly.

#Upgrades and matching sets

If you live together already, and have your basic inventory covered, make use of your registry to get items that will complete your existing sets. Also, if you have been making do with what is available, this may be the right opportunity to upgrade to all-matching choices. You should also take a look at what you could have a few extras for. Say, you have always been short of wine glasses or serving bowls, when you entertain. Make sure to add that to the list and stock up on what will help you better.

#Say yes to gift coupons

At times, it is best for both parties if you receive gift coupons in place of gifts. This allows you to pick out what you want, and your guest needn’t rack their brains considering what will be the best choice for their budget, from the list you have created. So, don’t forget to tick the box for gift coupons in your registry. Also, when you write your thank you note, do mention what you got for the gift coupon, so your guest knows that you’ve put their thoughtful gift to good use.

#Keep the list varied and with items with differing costs

Do not restrict your registrations for only items that are available in sets. Keep your registry varied and with items of every price range, so your guests can pick what fits their budget. By choosing individual pieces, you can also build up your stock of items, which will allow you to entertain conveniently, whether you are hosting a party for 6 or 12.

Now, let us take a look at the must-have’s every couple should register for.

List of 10 must-have’s that no couple should overlook.

1.Dinnerware

A whole dinnerware set in a neutral color, that you can use everyday is a must-have. Be careful when choosing the color, as you want it to live long and blend in easily with your varying tastes over time. White dishes are the best. Although they may not look too attractive, food of any color looks appealing when placed in a white dish. So, this is the perfect way to make sure your culinary efforts are most noticeable.

2. Flatware

Make your choice between silverware or the more practical stainless steel flatware. Keep in mind that dishwasher safe flatware are easiest to manage, and stainless steel often does best over time. If you already have a handy set, go for the silver. Nevertheless, remember that silver will tarnish, and so calls for extra care if you don’t use it regularly. Spend some time researching the options, and pick a pattern that you will love even after years have gone by.

3.Casseroles, saucepans and frying pans

Your food habits should determine what utensils will be useful for you. Assemble a basic cookware set with minimum three of these mentioned items. Like I said before, it is better to mix and match pieces to create the right mix of useful items, than just go with sets of many pieces that may not entirely be useful for you. Do you find yourself wishing for a soup pot all the time? Or would you like a wok for the Chinese food you always seem to cook? Then this is what should go on your registry.

4.Glassware

Wine glasses, shot glasses, beer mugs, drinking glasses; all that you think should comprise your glass cabinet. Standard sizes and shapes are your best bet, as you will find it easier to replace should one break. Unusual fancy ones may be difficult to replace, and will spoil your set if even one is lost.

5.Sharp knives and a knife block

The essential for modern day cooking, a set of sharp knives are a treasure that will save you time and effort in the long run. Make sure you add the basic four: a stellar chef’s knife, paring knife and serrated knife and knife sharpener to your wedding registry. Add a knife block to store these knives in. Not only will it save you valuable space, but also makes storage of these precious kitchen essentials safe and smart.

6.Cutting board

The wooden cutting board is a great investment and one that will last a lifetime. Add this to your registry, and get rid of those pale and tired looking plastic cutting boards that have been cluttering up your kitchen all this time.

7.Bed linen

Over the years, you will realize that you can never have too many good sheets. So, make sure you stock up on all the basic linen, including pillow cases, flat sheets and fitted sheets, by adding it to your registry. It would also help to have a few extras for backup. Choose a basic color that will be a timeless choice, and with a good thread count so they serve you for long.

8.Bath towels

Just like with the bed sheets, you will always find use for bath towels. Put down pairs of bath towels, hand towels and face towels. You do not have to stop with just one pair. Remember to stick with colors that will look fresh over the years.

9.Serving Dishes

A serving platter and an assorted range of serving dishes are essentials for every couple who loves to entertain. Although you may not think it is necessary right now, it will be a good investment that will be handy in the future. A large serving platter is a must, as it is versatile and can hold anything from rice and pasta to fruits, cupcakes and starters.

Do you think there is anything more that should be added to this list? If so, don’t forget to put it in the comments section below.

While we are on the topic of wedding registries, let me also remind you to constantly update yours, once you have it set up. As your guests tick items off your registry, update it with more options, so even the last guest has enough to choose from. This is where your multiple sets of items like bed linen and towels will come in handy.

Continue visiting us at Best for Bride for more wedding tips and advice. Your one-stop destination for everything bridal, we have all that you need to make your wedding day a success, under one roof. With extensive bridal dress collections, bridesmaids and flower girl dresses, as well as cakes, wedding stationery, flowers and décor, we have every aspect of your wedding covered. Visit us today and make your wedding dreams a reality.

The decisions leading up to the wedding can feel overwhelming and time-pressing, so make sure you are looking and thinking long-term in your planning as you embark on your new married life as a couple.

We compiled a list of the Top Wedding Planners in Toronto and GTA to help you find an event planner that will bring your dream wedding to life! We have also created a 12 Month Wedding Planning Checklist you can find at the bottom!